EAGLES: Foles looks to continue rookie tradition in Washington

LANDOVER, Md. — Against any other team, Eagles rookie quarterback Nick Foles would have a pretty good reason to be nervous.

Today he has the good fortune of making his first NFL start against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field (1 p.m., Fox 29, WIP 94.1-FM).

The Redskins are like Hamburger Helper. Mix their defense with a rookie quarterback making his starting debut, and you can’t tell he’s a rookie.

The last eight such rookies have beaten the Redskins. The list includes Trent Edwards, who with Michael Vick out indefinitely due to a concussion, backs Foles up this weekend.

Advertisement

Edwards sparked the Buffalo Bills to a win over the Redskins in his first NFL start in 2007 — without guiding his team to a touchdown — at FedEx Field.

“I wish I had a better story for you and I was more energetic about it, but I don’t really find it to mean anything other than we won,” said Edwards, who threw for 257 yards in the 17-16 victory. “I mean, our team won. I don’t really look at it as I won.”

Any quarterback looking at what these Redskins are doing statistically would want to take a shot at the defense. The Redskins give up 302 passing yards per game, which would break the NFL record.

Except for Ryan Kerrigan, who has 4 1-2 sacks, the Redskins have no pass rush. Celebrated edge rusher Brian Orakpo is on injured reserve.

Sure, the Eagles’ offensive line isn’t going to be immortalized in Canton. If Danny Watkins doesn’t return, newly acquired Jake Scott likely gets a shot to be the team’s third right guard in 10 games.

Still, add it all up and if that isn’t reason to throw the rock, what is?

“I know, he knows and the rest of the football team knows that there are certain things he can do very, very well,” Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said of Foles. “We’ll play to what we think and what he thinks his strengths are.”

Unlike Robert Griffin III, his Redskins rookie counterpart, Foles’ size 16 feet don’t lend them to getting him out of trouble. Foles is a pure passer. At 6-6, 243-pounds, he also can take a licking.

Griffin, on the other hand, looks more and more like a once-in-a-lifetime quarterback. Beyond the deadly burst, the young man with world class speed throws a very accurate, very catchable football.

For a guy with just nine pro starts, Griffin works the pocket incredibly skillfully. Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan and his son Kyle, the offensive coordinator, helped the transition with a spread type of offense that uses misdirection plays. So much misdirection it reminds Eagles defenders of their college days.

“RGIII is a guy you’ve got to keep contained,” said defensive end Trent Cole, who likens the rookie to Vick. “Their quarterback, he can run the ball and pass the ball. He’s more a running back-type to me. You’ve just got to keep a guy like that contained. I think this game every man has to do their assignment. It’s a man-up type of game. You’ve got to pretty much beat the man across from you and do your job because you’re going against a team that has the option. They do a lot of different things.

“If everybody does their job, we can leave Washington with the game. Pretty much we can win the game.”

Right now pretty much isn’t enough for the Eagles (3-6), who have lost five straight games and clearly are playing for 2013, considering the decision to play Foles, not Edwards at quarterback.

The Eagles must stop the Redskins running game with Griffin and rookie running back Alfred Morris, who ranks among the league leaders. The Skins average 165 rushing yards.

A failure to do so will enable RGIII to shred the Eagles’ defense and prevent Foles from finding any kind of a groove.

“We’re confident in him,” Eagles cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said. “The main thing is just trying to keep the ball in his hand. Let him get that feel. Let him get that rhythm in. Get in sync with the offense and go from there.”

It’s football, not quantum physics. While Eagles head coach Andy Reid told his players to go out, have fun and just enjoy the game Foles was way ahead of him.

“It really just comes down to going out and playing,” Foles said. “It’s football. You just have to trust yourself, trust the throws.”